Destitution and the Poverty of its Politics-With Special Reference to South Asia

The most extreme form of poverty is destitution. As a condition, destitution flows from processes of political economy, some of which become institutionalized within state practice and law. The destitute are not only considered as “nonpeople” in relation to the institutional functioning of state, market, and civil society institutions, but are often actively expelled from these institutional arenas. Challenging destitution requires the granting of citizenship to the destitute and their recognition in the eyes of political elites. Some politicized forms of social movement activity may be able to realize these and other pressing objectives for the destitute.